The Midnight Witness

August 27, 2018
Early in Blaedel’s middling seventh Louise Rick mystery to be published in the U.S. (after The Lost Women), Louise’s best friend, crime reporter Camilla Lind, calls to tell her that Karoline Wissinge, a 23-year-old nurse, was found strangled in a Copenhagen park. A distraught, exhausted Louise already knows about this murder, having spent the night before with the victim’s parents. Camilla also tells her of the death of fellow journalist Frank Sørensen, whose body was found in a hotel parking lot. The two homicide cases provide the procedural backdrop for the emotional trials both women endure to function in worlds still dominated by men. Louise, the only woman on the police homicide team, rebels against office politics and her superior’s prioritization of Frank’s murder over Karoline’s. Camilla clashes with her male boss, who sidelines her and dictates her approach to stories. Readers will relate to the women’s travails, but Blaedel overdoes the social-cum-feminist commentary on Copenhagen’s urban crime scene as the predictable plot lurches to its telegraphed ending. Agent: Victoria Sanders, Victoria Sanders & Assoc.

Louise Rick is a top-notch investigator, but will her track record help her solve the murder of a friend of a friend? Christine Lakin is a strong, steely narrator who is a good match for the main character. Her performance is steady, making the story immediate and giving the inquiries a sense of urgency. Lakin moves from the crime to the suspects and the chase with an ease that allows listeners to immerse themselves in the experience. She switches seamlessly between the characters, particularly Louise and Camilla, two of the principal females, because their personalities are well grounded and clear. For fans of Nordic noir, this will be a title to savor until the final revelation. M.R. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine